Victor football earns shutout win over Penfield

Victor football coach Geoff Mandile said his team prepared for Friday night's game against Penfield as if it were a sectional game, knowing a victory would set the Blue Devils up with a home game in the playoffs. The blue and gold ensured they'd be back on Corbit Field this season with a 44-0 win over the Patriots.

"We love playing on Corbit, we love being able to play at home," Victor's Michael Kahovec said. "I think that motivated us as a team."

The Blue Devils (5-2) bounced back from last week's 9-7 loss to Brockport, a game that decided the Monroe County Division 2 league title. Mandile credited the team's senior leadership for setting the tone during the week.

Victor gained 358 yards of total offense, while holding the Patriots to just 100 yards. Kahovec led the Blue Devils with 15 rushes for 112 yards and a touchdown, quarterback Mike Wagner completed 11 of 20 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown, Conor Powers caught five passes for 69 yards, Luke Bleier caught three passes for 49 yards, and Kyle Collins led the defense with two sacks.

It took less than four minutes for Victor to get on the board in the game. A 25-yard pass from Wagner to Powers led to a 1-yard touchdown run by Joe Carrier, who also kicked the extra point.

Penfield punted on its first possession and Victor scored on its next offensive snap. Kahovec broke a few tackles and outran the defense down the left sideline from 43 yards out. Carrier's extra point made it 14-0 with 5:57 left in the opening quarter. Kahovec credited his line with opening up a big hole to the outside.

After another punt by the Patriots, the Blue Devils drove down the field for a 23-yard field goal by Carrier before the first quarter was over.

Victor extended its lead with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Wagner to John Clemens early in the second quarter.

Penfield's Brian McCandless intercepted a pass to keep Victor from extending their lead before halftime.

On the third play of the second half, Victor's Luke Bartkoski intercepted a Penfield pass and ran it back 32 yards for a touchdown. Carrier's extra point made it 30-0.

An interception by Blue Devil John Bower set up a 10-yard touchdown run for senior Matt Capezzuto and Tyler Eifert connected on the extra point. Fellow senior Ryan Vedro added a 17-yard touchdown in the final minute of the game with Eifert adding the point after.

The Blue Devils defense has improved significantly since last year and is only allowing 10 points per game in 2013.

"We were young last year, a lot of those guys are returners," Mandile said. "We took some lumps and they committed in the offseason. They're the unit we lean on."

Page 2 of 2 - The Section 5 Class A playoffs will be loaded with talented teams. Kahovec said the team is going to work every day to achieve the ultimate goal of winning a sectional championship. Canandaigua ended Victor's sectional chances in overtime of the quarterfinals last fall.

"I would say there's still a sour taste in our mouths," Kahovec said. "We're still trying to get back after that. We definitely want to make a statement in sectionals."